Subsea Pulling Heads


Intro - Polarled

A Cost-Effective Method For Pipeline Placement

FO&GT has supplied some ‘Pulling Heads’, which are developments of the Soft Seal Pressure Cap for the Optima® Connector. These Pulling Heads are typically used for the lifting of pipelines during installation activities.

The Pulling Heads use multiple clamp segments that are operated using a locking ring and hinge technology. Although they are full pressure retaining connectors, unlike the Optima® Connector, they are not pre-stressed connectors. They are operated by the ROV lifting the locking ring to open the clamp segments (this can be either through direct lifting or hydraulic). The connectors use elastomeric seals that typically seal in the bore of the Optima® Hub.

Anadarko Lucius & Heidelberg project - Gulf of Mexico

These projects are both SPAR Platforms that utilise Steel Catenary Riser (SCR) technology in deep water. Where the SCR is lifted into place and located into the receptacle on the base of the SPAR Hull, the Pulling Head is used to grip onto the Optima® Hub (Optima® Connectors were used to make the jumper connections from the SCR’s to the hull piping). These SCR’s were in water depth up to 2,286m (7,500ft) and had 14” Nominal Bore (NB) and 16” NB pipelines. The Pulling Heads supplied were designed for a safe working load of 825 metric tonnes and proof tested to 1,240 metric tonnes.

Statoil Polarled Pipeline Project - North Sea

This Pulling Head was designed to fit the 36” Optima® hub that was on the end of the export pipeline, a 36” Optima® was used to connect the Pipe Line End Manifold (PLEM) to the pipeline. The Pulling Head was used to lay the pipeline down from the Solitaire Lay Vessel down to the sea bed Foundation Skid Plate in 1,265m (4,150ft) water depth. Once the pipeline end was on the sea bed, it was also used to flood the 485km (303 mile) export line back to land in Norway.

The Pulling Head was also designed to take the full 233Barg (3,378psig) bore pressure. It was designed to fit the 36” Optima® hub that was on the end of the export pipeline. The Pulling Head was used to lay the pipeline down from the Solitaire Lay Vessel down to the sea bed Foundation Skid Plate in 1,265m (4,150ft) water depth. Once the pipeline end was on the sea bed, it was also used to flood the 485km (303 mile) export line back to land in Norway. The Pulling Head was also designed to take the full 233Barg (3,378psig) bore pressure.

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